Tag Archive: Live To Rise

Hi everyone. I was very sad to hear today that Chris Cornell has died. I don’t want to speculate on how or why, but I felt it was right to post a song that has helped me through some tough times, and which have given me inspiration. That song is Live To Rise by Soundgarden, which was published on the The Avengers soundtrack Avengers Assemble (2012). Here are the lyrics.

I first heard this song in the end credits to the Marvel Studios film The Avengers, in a movie theater. And if you know how Marvel works, you know to sit through the end credits of every film they make. So I did. And since then, I’ve been listening to this song, which was how I got introduced to Soundgarden and Chris Cornell as an artist. I’ve already posted a review on Show Me How To Live by Audioslave, which was one of his other bands, and which you can read here. I even included both that and this song on my “Most iconic songs”-list, which you can find here. Holy crap he was talented. But this wasn’t supposed to be a eulogy, so here we go:
The intro is a funky and catchy riff, and I like how the drums stop to let us get a clear listen at the sound of the guitar before the song continues. The song slows down for the verses to a simple playing of guitar and bass chords, drum, and Chris Cornell’s voice, with a little flavor of sound from the electric guitar. Chris has the most improbable and effortlessly high voice I’ve heard from a male vocalist before, and yet it is deep and soulful as well, and calming as he sings “Warm my face, warm your face”. I just dig the guitar solo, it kicks ass, and you can hear it continuing in the background as Chris sings out the last two rounds of the chorus, ending the song. This isn’t the most popular song, or even the best, but this is a song that mean something to me, and that I wanted to share with you all. Rest in peace, Chris Cornell.

“What if the one thing that I missedWas everything I need to pass the test?And if I fail what happens then?Can I still count on you as a friend?We’re insane but not alone,You hold on and let go”
(Live To Rise – Soundgarden)